Our Birthday Teenager, Clark!

My son is officially a teenager and I can't believe it!  Where on earth did the time go?  And where on earth did my sweet little toddler go that wore out his purple jersey and constantly carried a football?  Actually he is still carrying around some time of sports ball but is sure not so little anymore.

Clark celebrated his 13th birthday by waking up to his favorite breakfast of French Toast.  I quickly had to decorate the family room (since we got home so late from St. George the night before) so he stayed upstairs while the rest of us hung some party decor but he often yelled his requests down about how many balloons to hang and where.  Then we hit Laser Quest for a family round of lasertag.  Yes, the champion still reigns . . . me!  But only because Joe helps Carlee.

We grabbed some lunch at Panda Express and came home for presents and cake.  That evening Joe and I were "required" to attend our ward date night so we left Clark home to "babysit" with his new PS3 games.  Clark was more than happy to stay home and play with his new stuff so he happily sent us off for our date. 

 Looking very excited and very grown-up!

 

Yes!  A new Baltimore Ravens hat!

 An assist laser for his airsoft gun

 "The Hunger Games" movie which he had been begging me to buy at the store everyday when he left for school.  Little did he know that Carlee and I had purchased it the day it came out and were hiding it for his birthday.

 Madden 13 and a new controller for the PS3 which he helped to purchase with his saved money for the past year.  Ironically he had saved up enough just in time for his birthday.  Hmmm . . .

 Opening his cards and money from his family and siblings

 Clark requested a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and his name written in white in the shape of a triangle.  Strange request but it tasted great and looked like a large slice of cake!  Perfect!

(Someday, while looking back, my children are going to make fun of my decorated cakes but I am prepared to hit them back with, "You told me to!")

 Happy Birthday, Clark!  We love you and are so proud of you! 

Aladdin

Our birthday activity for Clark and Katelyn was attending Aladdin at Tuacahn in St. George.  We pulled the kids out of school a little bit early and headed up to eat a delicious dinner at Anasazi Steakhouse.  The kids loved eating their own steak on a hot rock, cooked to their liking, and chocolate fondue for dessert.

We drove out to Tuacahn for the show and met the Bodilys there.  They sat right behind us so we enjoyed visiting with them and sharing treats.  The show was wonderful as all Tuacahn's productions are.  In the rush to get up there, I forgot my nice camera and I didn't even get a family picture!  Oh well.  They also don't allow pictures during the show so I took some from the internet to show scenes from the musical.

 Clark and Joe were picking up our tickets at the Will-Call office

Wearing their 3-D glasses while waiting for the show to start

Here comes Aladdin into the marketplace

The narrators for the play and members of Aladdin's band

Jasmine is plotting how to get rid of her arrogant suitors

Prince Ali Ababwe

"A Whole New World" flying magically right over our heads in the audience.  Carlee loved it!

We had plans to spend the night but Clark really wanted to get home to wake up in his own bed for his birthday so it was a quick trip up and back but we loved it.

Our Birthday Girl, Katelyn!

For Katelyn's 11th birthday, we celebrated again this year by going to BJ's Restaurant after Hollywood Kids.  It seems like this is our tradition when birthdays fall on Thursdays.  She loves the fettucine chicken alfredo, Clark loves steak, and they both love being sung to with birthday pazookies to follow.

 In this lighting and with those grins, these two could be twins!

When we came home, she opened her presents and we had her requested key lime pie for dessert.  She had a wonderful birthday full of unexpected surprises. 

 Carlee picked out a cute turquoise cake ball maker that Katelyn loved.

  The boys gave her a mixing bowl, cooking utensils and measuring cups, and oven mitts.  

And this went perfectly with the apron and cookbook from Grandma and Grandpa Holt.  

All in turquoise, of course!

Look who got an unexpected surprise!  Katelyn got Julie.  She was saving her money for this doll over two years ago but decided to spend it on a guitar instead.  She has still been thinking about her and wanting to add her to the American Girl collection in her room so we decided that this would be the last one she would get.  She was surprised and thrilled. 

Introducing the American Boy of the Year for 2013, Clark! 

Two cute American Girls:  Katelyn and Julie

My 11-year-old with her birthday stash!  Happy Birthday, sweet girl!  We love you!

Forever in Blue Jeans

My parents came down for Labor Day weekend and since my mom's birthday is in September, we decided to take them to see Neil Diamond at the MGM Grand theater.  We put on our blue jeans and he put on a great show at the ripe old age of 71.  My mom was giddy with excitement and there were several generations of fans attending his concert.  My pictures didn't turn out very well at all but we had a really fun time.  

 

This picture was from the Las Vegas Journal promoting his tour. 

This lady was slowly walking towards the stage holding flowers while Neil was singing, "Girl, You'll be a Woman Soon."  She reached out her hand to Neil and he knelt down on the stage to hold it.  Security was trying to walk her back to her seat but Neil pushed them away and then laid down on his stomach and sang the entire song to her.  He even leaned into her and either whispered something or kissed her.  I thought she was going to faint and her husband was jumping all over and freaking out.  The audience was going wild.  What a lucky lady!

"Sweet Caroline" with audience participation on the chorus repeated about 8 times.  

That song was running through my head all night long and the next day.